Design and Structural Analysis of Single Plate Friction Clutch

Design and Structural Analysis of Single Plate Friction Clutch

Abstract

In design of the friction clutches of
automobiles, knowledge on the thermo-elasticity a
property is very informative in the initial design
stage. Especially, the precise prediction technique
of maximum structural stress should be requested
in design of mechanical clutches for their
durability and compactness.
In this study, an efficient and reliable
analysis technique for the design of the
mechanical clutches by using computer modeling
and numerical method is developed. This work
contains stress analysis of single plate clutch of
the automobile, in which the stresses and forces
developed in the clutch is tried to reduce with the
help of software approach. The detail study of
clutch and modeling of clutch is done in pro-e
software and the analysis is to be done in Ansys
software. Also in this work efficient and reliable
design of mechanical clutch is find out.

Introduction

Clutch is a device used in the transmission
system of a vehicle to engage and disengage the
transmission system from the engine. Thus, the
clutch is located between the engine and the
transmission system. In a vehicle, the clutch is
always in the engaged position. The clutch is
disengaged when starting the engine, when shifting
gears, when stopping the vehicle and when idling
the engine. It is disengaged by operating the clutch
pedal i.e. by pressing the pedal towards the floor of
the vehicle. The clutch is engaged when the vehicle
has to move and is kept in the engaged position
when the vehicle is moving. The clutch also
permits the gradual taking up of the load, when
properly operated; it prevents jerky motion of the vehicle and thus avoids putting undue strain on the
remaining parts of the power transmission .

The parts of a single plate clutch can be
seen below .It has only one clutch plate, mounted
on the splines of the clutch shaft. This is the most
commonly used type.
The flywheel is mounted on the crankshaft, and
rotates with it. The pressure plate is fixed on the
flywheel through the pressure plate is fixed on the
flywheel through the clutch springs. The plate
rotates freely on the clutch shaft. It can also be
moved axially along the clutch shaft. The axial
movement of the pressure plate is effected by
pressing the clutch pedal. The end of the clutch
shaft rests and rotates freely in the pilot bearing
housed at the centre of the flywheel.

Clutch plate in a car is controlled by the left-most
pedal. This makes use of hydraulics or a cable
connection. The clutch may be physically located
in close proximity to the pedal, but remote means
of actuation are required to remove the effect of
slight engine movement. If there is no pressure on
the pedal, it means that the clutch plates are
engaged. It gets disengaged once the clutch pedal is
depressed. Cars can also function with manual
transmission. In this there are cogs that have
matching teeth to synchronize the speed. One can
select gears with the help of these cogs. In
motorcycles, the clutch is operated by the clutch
lever. One can engage the clutch plate by applying
no pressure on the lever. Pulling the lever back
towards the rider disengages the clutch plates.
Slipper clutch plates are often used by racing
motorcycles to get rid of engine braking.

Structural Analysis

Structural analysis comprises the set of physical
laws and mathematics required to study and
predicts the behavior of structures. The subjects of
structural analysis are engineering artifacts whose
integrity is judged largely based upon their ability
to withstand loads; they commonly include
buildings, bridges, aircraft, and ships. Structural
analysis incorporates the fields of mechanics and
dynamics as well as the many failure theories.
From a theoretical perspective the primary goal of
structural analysis is the computation of
deformations, internal forces, and stresses. In
practice, structural analysis can be viewed more
abstractly as a method to drive the engineering
design process or prove the soundness of a design
without a dependence on directly testing it.

Total Deformation of Clutch Plate

It consists of linear and non-linear models. Linear
models use simple parameters and assume that the
material is not plastically deformed. Non-linear
models consist of stressing the material past its
elastic capabilities. The stresses in the material then
vary with the amount of deformation.